Basics & Research

The aim of the «Basics & Research» unit is to develop the necessary foundations for the strategic orientation of the organization and the thematic priorities, as well as the transversal themes. In addition, it carries out targeted studies and empirical research projects on questions of securing and analysing the impact of Co-worker missions in the global South and awarness-raising in the North.

2015-2017 was dominated by the debate on «Development»; the results are contained in the publication «The uneasiness with development». In 2017 COMUNDO's research project «Sustainability of co-worker's interventions in Personnel Development Cooperation in Latin America» was carried out and concluded with a final document in German and Spanish, as well as summaries in English and French. The same year, a list of arguments on behalf of personnel Development Coorporation (PDC) was drawn up to give the organisation a solid base concerning external communication and political lobbying. A detailed basic paper was elaborated for the campaign «Youth Needs a Future» (2018-2020). A guide to «Spirituality and religion in the PDC» will be published in 2018. In addition, another research project will be carried out in 2018, this time with the fundamental issue of what kind of «added value» our partner organizations in the South see in the PDC, and what motives play a role in the requests for skilled Co-workers from the North. In addition, case studies and best practices in the South and North will be prepared on the «Worldwide Learning» approach.

Concept of development

The book «Das Unbehagen an der Entwicklung: Eine andere Entwicklung oder anders als Entwicklung?» («The uneasiness with development: another development or beyond development?») resulted from a process of reflection on the concept of development initiated by COMUNDO: Is it about alternative development or is it about alternatives to development?

Sustainability study published

Are the assignments of Co-workers in the global South still noticeable ten years after their finalization? These and other questions were addressed by a research project carried out in COMUNDO's four Latin American assignment countries. The project was supported by the Fund for Innovative South Projects of Unité (the Swiss association for Personnel Development Cooperation).